When you envision a container home, the first thing that comes to mind might not include a luxury lifestyle. Traditionally, container homes started as housing units for mine workers and offices at construction sites, but the bulky metal boxes have recently gained a new lease on life.
Architects and homeowners are pushing the boundaries of creativity to create some of the most stunning homes out of shipping containers.
Why Container Homes?
There are many reasons people turn to shipping containers as their primary building material. They are incredibly durable, as they were made to survive the harshest conditions after being ferried around the world at sea, and often left exposed to the elements at ports. Shipping containers are also readily available globally and are easy to transport.
You can customize the inside of your container in one location and transport it to your desired site or have the work done in its final location. This also means you can retrofit all of your appliances, and do any electrical work or AC repair work at your service provider’s factory prior to settling it in your yard.
Shipping containers are also versatile, and price-wise, they are affordable. A used 20-ft container will cost you less than a brand new one. You can get a used one for about $1,500, and a longer 40-ft container typically won’t cost more than $5,000.
Where To Put Them?
Shipping containers are being used for a variety of building types. Some people have made modern offices from them, and others have turned them into pop-up shops which can be moved from one location to the next. This makes for smart and effective brand marketing.
Different states have different regulations regarding where you can place or construct your container house. You might require a special permit for densely populated suburbs or in some remote locations.
Container houses offer a sustainable option to housing, and you can create your dream home by a beach or in the countryside. They give a new purpose to containers that, in most cases, are otherwise just going to sit in a shipping yard or port waiting to be turned to scrap metal.
Barring legal regulations, there is virtually no limit to where you can place your home, and there is no limit to the number of containers you can use, from single-story structures to multiple-story structures. With a competent engineer, you can make the most of the big metal boxes, even in the most limited of spaces.
Sustainability Meets Luxury
As we mentioned, containers are versatile. They can be fabricated to suit all tastes and functions. The one thing you’ll need to do with most container homes is add some form of insulation. This will keep your house cool during the summer and warm during winter nights. These containers can get very hot and stuffy as they are made to be watertight and protect all cargo within.
The larger container homes are made by joining two or more containers together or stacking them on top of each other. You can add whatever fittings you want inside them, and for more light, you can cut out portions of the sides to make floor-to-ceiling windows, just like in any brick and mortar house.
Go Green
You can save resources and land by reusing these containers and converting them into a housing masterpiece. You are only limited by your creativity in terms of what you can do with your container.
Container homes are becoming more popular than ever – so if you are contemplating a simple lifestyle that doesn’t sacrifice luxury, a container home may be just the right option for you.